**Ishant Sharma Shares Words of Wisdom from MS Dhoni Ahead of 2013 Champions Trophy Final**
Gujarat Titans (GT) pacer Ishant Sharma recently opened up about the valuable lessons he learned from former India captain MS Dhoni during the 2013 ICC Champions Trophy. The 37-year-old credited the legendary wicketkeeper-batsman for instilling immense self-belief among his teammates, while also praising Dhoni’s exceptional game awareness, especially during the rain-shortened final against England.
Speaking on Raj Sharma’s YouTube channel, Ishant revealed a memorable incident where Dhoni predicted the course of the match despite challenging weather conditions. “Everyone thought the match would be washed out due to rain,” Ishant recalled. “But Mahi bhai said the match would happen; it would be short, and he didn’t think God would just win us the game. God won’t do anything—you have to take charge yourself. He would say, ‘You believe in God but trust in yourself.’”
### Comparing Dhoni and Kohli’s Captaincy Styles
Ishant also compared the captaincy styles of MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli, highlighting their unique on-field tactics. “Mahi bhai was a captain who loved doing things actively on the field,” he said. “His decisions were always based on the game situation. With Virat, there was usually a basic plan, and then we adapted as the game progressed.”
Ishant noted Dhoni’s informal approach to leadership: “He wasn’t very focused on meetings; instead, he played the game instinctively. Nobody really understood his meeting plans because his strategy was simple — you learn only if you make mistakes. He would say, ‘If you make a mistake, then how long you take to repeat the same mistakes, that shows your consistency.’”
### Ishant’s Match-Winning Performance in 2013 Champions Trophy Final
Ishant Sharma played a crucial role in India’s dramatic 5-run victory over England in the 2013 Champions Trophy final. He returned impressive bowling figures of 2/36, taking two key wickets and conceding only four runs in the penultimate over—turning the momentum sharply in India’s favor. Ravichandran Ashwin then successfully defended 15 runs in the last over of the 20-over contest, sealing the title for India.
### Life Lessons from MS Dhoni
Beyond cricket tactics, Ishant expressed deep gratitude for the life lessons he learned from Dhoni. Referring to him as a “big brother,” Ishant said: “Everyone has seen Mahi bhai as a big brother. We didn’t just learn to play cricket, but also how to do well without the senior-junior hierarchy in the team. How to live life and interact respectfully with others — you learn many life skills from Mahi bhai.”
### Ishant Sharma’s Career Highlights
Ishant Sharma has represented India under the leadership of both MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli. With 311 wickets in 105 Test matches, he is among India’s leading wicket-takers in red-ball cricket. In addition, he has picked up 115 wickets in 80 One Day Internationals (ODIs).
The seasoned pacer most recently featured for Gujarat Titans during the IPL 2025 season, where he played seven matches and claimed four wickets.
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**About the Author:**
*James Kuanal*
James has been covering cricket news for Sportskeeda for over three years, reaching over 10 million readers. An avid cricket follower since 2002, James specializes in breaking news and has extensive experience working with Times of India, NDTV, and other reputed outlets. Holding a Master’s degree, he applies his skills in fact-checking, SEO, and content strategy to deliver insightful cricket journalism. Inspired by MS Dhoni, James is a dedicated fan of Chennai Super Kings (CSK) and enjoys Bollywood music in his leisure time.
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